The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time | True holiness lies not in ritual, but in compassionate action
Know Before You Go for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr Scott Steinkerchner, O.P.
Father Scott begins by highlighting St. Paul's message in 1 Corinthians: "I resolved to know nothing... except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Paul emphasizes that faith rests on God's spiritual power, not human wisdom or rhetoric. This sets the stage for a deep dive into Isaiah 58, where the prophet warns against mere ritualistic fasting while ignoring the truly hungry and oppressed. God's demand is clear: share your bread, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, and your "light shall break forth like the dawn."
Connecting these powerful Old Testament words to the New, Father Scott explores Jesus' call in Matthew 5 to be the "Salt of the Earth" and the "Light of the World." He reminds us that these teachings are the very criteria for judgment found in Matthew 25 – separating the sheep from the goats. We are challenged: if we lose our savor or hide our light, what good are we?
This reflection powerfully argues that we don't need worldly power; rather, we need to use what little power we have to uplift the less fortunate. In doing so, God's power will work through us, bringing healing and light. It's a call to proactive compassion, trusting that when we care for those in need, God will take care of the rest.
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### ⏰ Timeline
0:00:00 Welcome & Introduction to the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
0:00:26 Second Reading (1 Corinthians): Paul's Focus on Christ Crucified
0:00:41 Paul's Weakness, Fear, and Reliance on God's Spiritual Power
0:01:11 God's Power vs. Worldly Wisdom
0:01:38 First Reading (Isaiah 58): Context of Isaiah's Prophecy
0:02:32 Prophet's Warning: True Holiness Beyond Ritualistic Fasting
0:03:06 God's Demands: Share, Shelter, Clothe the Needy
0:03:25 The Promise: Light, Healing, and Flourishing through Compassion
0:03:50 God's Clear Words: Care for the Afflicted
0:04:19 We Can't Save Ourselves, But We Can Care for the Suffering
0:04:36 If We Care, God Will Take Care of Us
0:04:50 Gospel Reading (Matthew 5): Connection to Isaiah & Matthew 25
0:05:30 Jesus' Call: "You Are the Salt of the Earth"
0:05:42 Jesus' Call: "You Are the Light of the World"
0:06:04 The Work of the Lord: Helping Those with Less Power
0:06:21 God's Power Works Through Our Compassion
0:06:30 Don't Fight for the Dawn, Fight to Protect the Needy
0:06:42 Conclusion: Are We Doing the Work of God?
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